Evert Takes To Court In Legends

SPORTS this morning

March 8, 1997|By Charean Williams, of The Sentinel Staff

WESLEY CHAPEL — Chris Evert never had a normal childhood. When kids her age were having slumber parties, Evert was playing Wimbledon.

She never spared time for trips to the beach, proms, debutante balls or college sororities, either. Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova and Evonne Goolagong dominated her grown-up childhood calendar.

These days, though, Evert's schedule is nothing, if not ordinary.

Evert's day involves getting up at 7 a.m. with her three boys - Alexander, 5; Nicholas, 2 1/2 ; and Colton, born last June. They run her more ragged than Navratilova ever did. Alex has to be at school by 8 a.m., Nicky attends classes with his mother at 10 a.m., and Alex has karate at 6 p.m.

Evert, America's tennis darling for 20 years, is Mrs. Mom.

''I love it. I wouldn't trade it for anything,'' said Evert, who is the top draw for the Virginia Slims Legends tournament, which begins its six-stop tour today and Sunday at Saddlebrook Resort.

''I still like to play tennis,'' Evert said. ''I feel like since I've been off the tour, being a mom, I'm different. I don't need the competition now. I don't need to prove anything.''

In her career, Evert won 1,309 of 1,455 matches, giving her the best winning percentage (.900) in pro history. She won 18 Grand Slam titles, including three Wimbledons, and more than $8 million in prize money. Her 80 matches with Navratilova took women's tennis into the mainstream.

But when Evert talks about her tennis career, she refers to herself in the past tense.

''When I think about myself, it's like a different person back then,'' Evert said. ''When I think about myself back then, I can't believe just how consistent I was for 18 years. Every week I was able to play like it was my first time. I was strong mentally, I think.

''That's what impresses me now about myself back then, more than any stroke or technique or whatever,'' Evert said.

It has been eight years since Evert stepped away from the game to have a life.

Evert and her husband, former two-time Olympic downhill skier Andy Mill, are living out the American fantasy.

They spend most of their time entertaining their three sons at homes in Boca Raton and Aspen, Colo.